Is there a study out there that links vitamin B12 specifically with lowered or raised melatonin? And related to that, is there any relation to high amounts of B12, and lack of sleep or other sleep issues? I take B12, as a vegetarian, as I am reported to be deficient, but when I take a full recommended dose (as opposed to half) it seems to be interfering with my sleep. As I am melatonin sensitive, I am exploring a link.

I had been sleeping fine all along with a mild vitamin deficiency, dropping off to sleep within a minute or so after hitting the pillow. The nights after the days where I took a full dose of B12, I was up for hours past my bedtime in hyper alert mode. No caffeine was taken those days.

1 Answer
1

Those who can't get to sleep at night may need vitamin B12. Studies
show that B12 causes an earlier release of melatonin at night which
resets the sleep-wake cycle. (Melatonin has been called "the sleep
hormone" because of its effects on sleep). B12 acts directly on the
pineal gland to provoke a faster release of melatonin. At the tail
end, B12 causes melatonin to drop off faster. B12 helps you get to
sleep earlier, and may help you wake up earlier if you leave a curtain
open to the morning sun. B12 sensitizes you to morning light, which
helps you wake up. Very serious sleep-wake disorders have been
successfully treated with vitamin B12 in the methylcobalamin form,
although it may not work for everyone. Unfortunately, the vitamin
doesn't help people who want to cut down on their sleep time
altogether.

I don't think vitamin B12 is the primary ingredient in any energy shots. It wouldn't normally have a drastic immediate effect like caffeine
– ZannaApr 30 '17 at 7:51

1

While the percentages are high, that indicates the amount relative to the recommended daily allowance, not relative to other ingredients in energy drinks. (That being said, it's clearly present in energy drinks.)
– Erica♦Apr 30 '17 at 16:32

1

Thank you @chiliNUT, I think you're on to something. The B12 I was taking was over 1000% of the daily recommended value. I had no idea this was also in these energy drinks. Very helpful info. Thanks everyone!
– middleagedgeezerMay 1 '17 at 12:28

@Erica I didn't think of that, that makes sense, I'm not sure if the volumes are comparable but the energy blend is 3,740x the volume of the B12
– chiliNUTMay 1 '17 at 15:33